No. 2 Matadors Dispatch NJIT in Three Sets, 30-14, 30-21, 30-28

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -
Juniors Shane Nelson and Theo Edwards combined for 28 kills off the bench to lead second-ranked Cal State Northridge to a 30-14, 30-21, 30-28 win over the New Jersey Institute of Technology in a non-conference match Tuesday at The Matadome.

With the win, the Matadors improve to 17-3 on the season while the Highlanders slip to 3-14.

Playing mostly reserves for much of the match, Northridge dominated the first two sets but had to struggle to win the third and final set.

Nelson, who came on for Tanner Nua midway through the first set, got his first significant playing time of the season at the opposite hitter position and responded with a season-high 15 kills while hitting .333. Nelson also had five digs and one ace. Edwards, also a junior, added a season-high 13 kills while also hitting .333 while redshirt freshman Matt Rice chipped in seven kills (.455) and a pair of blocks (one solo).

Jeff Baxter, who came in for starter Matt Stork at setter, posted a match-high 33 assists and helped lead Northridge to a .349 hitting clip. Junior libero Kaleo Baxter had a season-high eight digs in relief of Ali'i Keohohou. No Matador starter played more than a set in the win.

Charles Bell led NJIT with a team-high nine kills (.217) while Amobi Armstrong added seven kills (.074) with four coming in the third set.

The Matadors had 57 kills with 19 errors in 109 swings while the Highlanders struggled to a .037 (23-20-81) hitting clip.

Cal State Northridge returns to action on Wednesday as the Matadors host Lees-McRae at 7 p.m.